Kolkata hospitals say they can't lower rates

Private hospitals in Kolkata have made it clear to the West Bengal Health Regulatory Commission that they won’t be able to sustain operations by lowering their existing charges.Prithvijit Mitra | TNN | August 21, 2017, 15:26 IST

Representative image.KOLKATA: Private hospitals in Kolkata have made it clear to the West Bengal Health Regulatory Commission that they won’t be able to sustain operations by lowering their existing charges. Asked to explain why their rates were higher than the Swasthya Sathi rates, prescribed by the state government to provide treatment at reasonable charges to the underprivileged, hospitals have pointed out that their operational expenses and technological investment costs were too high to be matched with the suggested rates without compromising with the quality of service. Hospitals were asked to respond to the commission by August 15.

While each hospital has sent its response individually to the commission, several had got together last week for an informal discussion among themselves. “Our cost explanation is accompanied by a covering letter which makes it clear that charges are consistent with the operational expenses and technological input costs which are necessary for high quality healthcare and satisfactory clinical outcomes. We have to spend on upgrading our instruments and machinery which is a huge cost. Our running expenses, too, can’t be lowered any further,” said R Ventkatesh, zonal director – east, RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS).

The RTIICS letter also seeks further 'advice from the health commission’ and has sought a further meeting with the commission. “Since everything can’t be explained in a letter, we are expecting an interaction that would help us take the discussion forward. In that meeting, we plan to have our own experts to present our case,” added Venkatesh. Belle Vue Clinic, too, has pleaded its inability to revise charges. The hospital has re-sent an earlier letter to the commission, in which it had mentioned that the existing charges can’t be scaled down. “We have not explained our existing rates, but mentioned that they can’t be revised,” said P Tondon, CEO, Belle Vue.